Date: 28-03-24  Time: 08:13 am

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Topics - Grahamm

Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 8
1
For Sale & Wanted / MOVED: Scam
« on: 14 May 2023, 07:06:41 pm »

2
For Sale & Wanted / Wanted: FZ6 rear brake disc bolts
« on: 01 April 2023, 09:41:23 am »
Does anyone in the UK have a spare set of bolts for the rear brake disc of a FZ6 Fazer 2006 that they can send me ASAP?

Note: the measurements on the picture may not be entirely accurate (I've only got a cheap vernier gauge!) but should be reasonably close.

3
General / Brake disc bolts
« on: 30 March 2023, 09:45:13 pm »
I need to replace the rear brake disc on my FZ6, but, despite using a heat gun and then a blow torch, I can't get the bolts that hold the disc on the wheel to move (probably because they haven't been undone since the bike was made) and now the allen heads are starting to strip out.

I don't want to use a dremel to cut slots in them until that's the only option, so I've ordered an impact driver and I've had people on Facebook suggest hammering in a torx bit, but I want to keep the brute force options until I've exhausted all the others.

Earlier today I squirted them with a load of brake cleaner (which is supposed to dissolve threadlock) and now I've left them soaking with Plusgas, so tomorrow I'm going to give them another go with the blowtorch, but does anyone else have any useful suggestions?

4
For Sale & Wanted / 2 x Osram Nightbreaker 200 H7 bulbs
« on: 25 March 2023, 11:46:33 pm »
My headlight went recently, so I decided to get one of the latest Nightbreakers and a spare, except I didn't realise I was actually buying *two* twin packs... (memo to self, don't buy stuff late at night when you're tired!)

So I now have a brand new and unopened pack of two H7 Nightbreaker 200 bulbs for sale.

They cost £33 for the pack, but I'm offering them for £29 including P&P because I don't need them.

Let me know if you're interested...

5
General / I wish I could say I was surprised...
« on: 23 February 2023, 03:51:23 pm »
Large parts of the smart motorway network in England were hit by a two-hour software failure on Wednesday.

The problem, which froze signs and signals and deactivated the stopped vehicle detection system (SVD), lasted from about 08:30 to 10:30 GMT.

National Highways said it was "urgently investigating" the problem.


Outage prompts investigation amid calls to axe smart motorways

Why on earth a Safety Critical system like this doesn't have some form of back up mode or, at least, a "fail safe" setup that would post caution warnings on all the signs if the computer systems failed, I don't know.

(Well, actually I do, it's because that would cost more than the expense of cleaning up if there were any accidents if the system failed...)

6
General / Happy Birthday to....
« on: 31 December 2022, 06:36:46 pm »
... all those Foccers who, by an incredible coincidence, have their birthdays on January the 1st!  :rollin

7
General / Buying (shhh!) a used car
« on: 24 June 2022, 07:13:50 pm »
A question for the FOC-U Fount of All Knowledge...

Although I'm a Dyed-in-the-Wool biker, it does have certain drawbacks when it comes to another of my hobbies, ie surfing.

At the moment, if I'm going to to East Wittering, I'm limited to when the surfboard hire shop is open and, of course, also limited to their hire boards.

As such, I was thinking of the possibility of picking up a cheap car that I could keep parked outside and, when the surf is running, chuck my own board inside (or on a roof rack) and head down to catch some waves.

The basic criteria I'm looking at are:

1) Cheap. Probably around the £2-3000 mark at most

2) Low insurance/ VED

3) Not prone to needing expensive repairs

4) Capable of carrying at least a 7'6" surfboard or maybe a 9' longboard either inside or on a roof rack.

5) Reliable enough that I can leave it outside, unused, possibly for several weeks, but that will start when needed.

I know little to nothing about this, hence why I'm asking, so if anyone has some suggestions that will help me get a better idea of what I need and how much it's going to cost to run (and anything else I need to know) that would be great.

8
Like it or not, Electric Motorbikes are the future, so it's good to see big companies working together to make things easier for everyone instead of creating a whole load of different (and non-interoperatable) "standards"...

Since 2019, Japan’s big four motorcycle OEMs—Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha—have been working together on swappable electric vehicle batteries and associated technology.

[...]

It’s now March 30, 2022, and the Big Four just announced their next move on this project. Together with Japanese petroleum company Eneos, the consortium is establishing a brand-new company called Gachaco. The new firm will officially be established on Friday, April 1, 2022. Its two purposes will be the sharing of standardized swappable batteries for electric motorbikes and the development of appropriate infrastructure to support this service.


https://www.rideapart.com/news/576896/honda-yamaha-kawasaki-suzuki-gachaco/

9
General / Fuel Tank capacity
« on: 14 March 2022, 05:32:40 pm »
According to the manual, the fuel tank on the FZ6 can hold 19.4 litres.

But does anyone know if that's the absolute maximum (ie brim full to the cap) or whether it allows for an air gap at the top?

11
General / Stripping paint from fork lowers
« on: 30 December 2021, 11:32:47 pm »
I'm planning on repainting the fork lowers on my FZ6 as they've been battered and chipped by stones and other road debris over the years.

So I presume I'm going to need some paint stripper, however I'm not sure what to get or if there's anything else I'd need.

Obviously I'll remove the brake calipers and cover anything that I don't want painted and make sure nothing gets on the threads etc, and I've got etch primer and the same paint I used on the rear footpeg hangers, but is there anything else I should consider?

PS I have thought about powder coating, but that involves stripping them down entirely, instead of the quick(er) job I'm thinking about.

12
General / Help Save The Black Sabbath motorbike
« on: 29 December 2021, 10:34:42 pm »
I have no connection with this, but I saw it on Facebook and thought I'd share it here:

Help Save The Black Sabbath motorbike

13
General / Sir Frank Williams, RIP
« on: 28 November 2021, 06:26:39 pm »
Sir Frank Williams: Formula 1 team founder dies aged 79

I got into F1 in the mid 1970s, so watched it through the Williams glory years and it's been a real shame that their fortunes have declined so much since then.

Recently there have been a couple of documentaries about Frank Williams' life and it's incredible how he managed to carry on running a team despite being mostly paralysed in a car accident.

He was the last of the "Team Name" principals and his death is a sad loss to the sport :(

14
FZS600 Fazer / MOVED: 2005 FZ6 Fuel Hose problem
« on: 20 November 2021, 08:37:21 pm »

15
General / What are you going to do with your Fazer this winter...?
« on: 03 November 2021, 05:37:19 pm »
Ok, so we have the "what did you do with your Fazer" thread, but I've been going through the list of things that I want to do on my FZ6 this winter and was somewhat surprised at how many items are on it!

Nothing is safety critical, but they're things that I've been meaning to do for a while, just not done because other stuff has taken up my time.

I normally ride all year round, but at the moment I don't have anything on my calendar which I'm going to need it for, so here's what's on the list:

1) Sort the throttle out.

For some reason, there's a point at which it "sticks" for a moment when I open it. It's not a major issue and it's not like it jams or anything, but it means the power delivery isn't as smooth as I like.

Also, whilst I've got the grip off I'm going to put some silicone lube on the cables.

2) Lube the clutch cable.

Like with the throttle, the clutch isn't quite as smooth as it should be, so some silicone lube on that won't go amiss. Also I probably should check the free play which I've been meaning to do, but never got around to over the summer.

3) Balance the throttle bodies.

I'm actually not sure that there might not be a vacuum leak on cylinder 4, because that's the one the Scotoiler was linked to, but I found out earlier this year that it wasn't delivering the oil as it should. I replaced the oiler tubing (which had a hole in, probably didn't help!) and then the oil reservoir/ pump, but that didn't solve the issue until I moved the connector to cylinder 3.

4) Check the valve clearances.

I've been meaning to learn to do this for myself, rather than taking it to the workshop and, because I've got the old engine that died a couple of years ago, I can practice on that before I do it for real, just in case I mess anything up! The engine is over the 24,000 miles point, so it's a good time to do it.

5) Fix the instrument cluster display. 

When we had the thunderstorms a few weeks back, instead of being parked in the shed, the bike was on my sister's driveway as I was staying there and water got into the cluster, making the display fade out. Fortunately I've taken it apart before, so it's a much easier job this time, but it's a hassle having to take off the fairings etc.

6) Bleed the brakes.

Since I put the HEL braided lines on, the braking has become a lot more effective and the feel is better, but I'm thinking it's always a good idea to check that they're still in tip-top condition.

7) Everything else...!

Lots of little bits, like, recently, on a Group Ride, we were on a bumpy country road and I lost my right hand blind spot mirror :( I hadn't had one for ages, but, when I put it on, I realised how helpful it was and now I miss it!

The bike needs a wash after getting caught in the rain and I should re-do the ACF 50 after I've given the downpipes a polish.

Put a new connector on the Optimate Lead. For some reason, when the bike is on charge (I also use the lead to supply power to the TomTom Sat Nav cradle) it loses connection. I've tried cleaning the contacts, but I think there may be corrosion on the other side which is causing an issue.

As I said, none of these are safety critical issues that would eg cause an MOT fail, but I've just been busy with other stuff, so not got around to them for months...!

What about the rest of you? Got any plans/ upgrades/ tweaks you're going to do?

16
General / "Smart" motorways, 1 in 10 cameras not working...
« on: 28 September 2021, 06:20:13 pm »
The Highways Agency are being urged to reopen hard shoulders immediately after an investigation found that one in ten cameras weren't working. Also equipment failures have left operators unable to change signs or speed limits for an hour.

53 people haved died on these roads between 2015 and 2019 and analysis suggests that drivers who break down on motorways with no hard shoulder are actually at three times greater risk of tragic consequences than on normal motorways!

Smart motorways: 1 in 10 safety cameras ‘not working’, undercover probe finds

Also, down here in Hampshire, the M27 has been being "upgraded" for a couple of years and the completion date has been put back from September 2021 to Spring 2022.

This has resulted in an interminable 50mph average speed section and, last week, when I was coming back from Bristol, I was literally almost falling asleep, having to sing songs or recite sections of the Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy in my head to stop my concentration from drifting :(

As soon as we were out of that section and I could crack the throttle open I was wide awake again, watching vehicles ahead, checking traffic coming up behind, looking for people changing lanes unexpectedly etc... but we're stuck with the slow stuff for at least another 6 months.

17
General / Panic buying pillocks...
« on: 25 September 2021, 10:36:42 am »
So, I was planning on getting out on the bike today to enjoy the last of the warm weather and take a pic of the bike next to a signal box to complete the current FOC-U Bike Picture Challenge, but unfortunately I didn't tank up when I came back from surfing in Bristol a few days ago.

Now I have a near-empty tank and I'm not going to sit in a queue with a bunch of morons selfishly panic buying petrol because "well, I don't need it right now, but if I don't fill up now, everyone else will have taken it all..." and creating their own self-fulfilling prophecy!

 :wall :wall :wall

18
General / WTF? Ford launches Mach-Eau petrol smell fragrance...
« on: 17 July 2021, 11:24:20 am »
(Apparently this is not a spoof...!)

Quote
Over the weekend, Ford unveiled a petrol fragrance for future Mach-E GT owners at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The Fragrance is called Mach-Eau.

The OEM decided to create the new scent after it commissioned a survey where 1 out of 5 drivers said they would miss the smell of petrol after transitioning to an electric vehicle. According to Ford’s survey, 70% of the participants claimed they would miss the smell of petrol to some degree, while 24% stated they would miss the performance of ICE vehicles after the transition.

https://www.teslarati.com/ford-mach-e-gt-owners-get-petrol-fragrance

19
General / Metal plate for bike turntable
« on: 06 July 2021, 12:26:23 am »
Paging the Foc-U fount of all knowledge...

I'm getting the shed where I store my bike modified to allow me to ride my bike in and out of a nice wide door instead of having to push it back and forth to get through a narrow door and into the alleyway.

As such, I'm going to use one of these "lazy susan" bearings to make a turntable.

I've seen some that have a square section of what appears to be 18mm plywood on top, but, if possible, I'd like to use a thinner metal plate instead (possibly with a no-skid surface).

The idea is that I ride the bike into the shed and then the turntable goes under the centre stand so I can them pivot the bike around 180 degrees so I can ride it out again, but I need the plate to be strong enough that it won't distort without being as thick as the plywood.

Can anyone give me an idea of how thick the metal should be to handle about 200kg of bike?

PS Yes, I know some people spin the bike on the sidestand but a) I can't do that, I've tried and b) I've already had one sidestand shear off because it was being stressed in the wrong ways and they are *not* designed to be used like that, that's why I'm doing the turntable instead.


20
General / Fly-by-wire clutch?
« on: 01 July 2021, 08:04:49 pm »
I've just seen this in an email from WeMoto:

Quote
A patent image has emerged recently from Honda showing a new style clutch lever which is electronically monitored and works by sending feedback to a hydraulic pressure control which engages or disengages the clutch as required.

[Honda] think that computer operated clutch-by-wire is the way forward for a safer and better riding experience. The position of the clutch lever would be monitored electronically and feedback sent to the hydraulic pressure gauge to control the clutch, once the optimum clutch position had been selected by the computer.

Using this new system the clutch would be disengaged while not in use, instead of the current system where its default position is engaged, unless the lever is pulled.

[...]

So is this something you would like and are pleased to see or do you like the feedback from your fingers on the clutch lever? Slightly crazily it seems, Honda are including a 'reactive force generator' to act against the lever to make it feel more like an old style clutch

https://www.wemoto.com/news/article/1515/are_honda_heading_for_clutchbywire_for_m

Ok, fly-by-wire systems aren't exactly new (after all, that's sort of what the TPS does) and it would stop hassles with broken cables, but I'm really not sure about this bit: "Using this new system the clutch would be disengaged while not in use, instead of the current system where its default position is engaged, unless the lever is pulled."

Does that mean you'd have to keep the clutch pulled in all the time to get it to work and release it at traffic lights?

WDYT?

21
General / Forum Etiquette - Replying to Posts
« on: 13 June 2021, 10:10:10 pm »
This is an important message for all posters on these Forums.

We want to make these Forums a friendly, welcoming and open place for people to discuss bikes, biking and bike related issues.

Discussions of political topics are allowed, however, please keep them to separate threads as much as possible. If a bike related topic starts getting political, we may curtail the discussion or split it off into a thread of its own to keep the main topic from being swamped.

We appreciate that feelings can run high on some issues, however before you respond to a comment which you don't like or don't agree with, we would be grateful if you would pause for a moment, take a step back and consider whether "popping off" at someone else is going to add anything positive to the discussion.

There is no problem with you disagreeing with someone, but while "I don't think you're correct because..." is acceptable "you're an idiot" is not.

Personal attacks, insults, bullying or discriminatory language etc will not be tolerated and posts may be edited or removed at the Moderators' discretion.

Violations of these rules or other disruptive behaviour may result in a member's posting privileges being temporarily restricted.

Continued violations or other unacceptable behaviour may result in a member being permanantly banned.

Please note that if you have an issue with a poster or a post, use the "Report to Moderator" link at the bottom right hand corner of each post, do not post comments in the thread or call out other people's actions.

Moderator decisions are final and are not open to discussion.

- The Moderation Team

22
General / Blank pages?
« on: 08 June 2021, 09:33:04 pm »
When I get onto the FOC-U forums, I use the https://foc-u.co.uk/index.php?action=forum as my book mark in Firefox.

I then centre click on the forums which are of interest to me to open them in new tabs, switch to the new tabs and centre click again to open the topics in their own tabs.

However recently, instead of the page coming up with eg "The Covid Thread" in the title and showing the topic posts, they've just been coming up with a blank page and the URL in the address bar.

I've tried reloading, clearing cache and cookies, switching off uBlock Origin and NoScript but nothing seems to fix it, so eventually I have to go to a different site (eg another forum) and do some stuff on there, then, when I come back, FOC-U tends to work properly again.

Has anyone else had issues like this?

23
General / Building a patio
« on: 26 April 2021, 10:04:37 am »
A question for the FOC-U font of all knowledge...

My garden is basically an adventure playground for cats at the moment, but it's causing problems for my gf as the grass pollen kicks off her hay fever.

So I'm looking to replace it with a patio.

The idea is to hire a mini-digger, dig it out, put in a weed-proof barrier, then a couple of layers of hard core, tamp them down with a Wacka Plate, add a layer of sharp sand, then lay the patio on top of that, allowing a 1:60 drop for drainage (there'll be a strip of earth at the side for water to drain into.

Has anyone on here done this sort of job and has any useful suggestions, comments or recommendations for anything I might have missed?

24
General / RIP Murray Walker
« on: 13 March 2021, 07:23:56 pm »
Or Muddy Talker as he was sometimes referred to...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/56388596

Quote
The lead car is unique, except for the one behind it which is identical.

I don't make mistakes. I make prophecies which immediately turn out to be wrong.

There's nothing wrong with the car except that it's on fire.

And now, excuse me while I interrupt myself.

And that just shows you how important the car is in Formula One Racing.

Either the car is stationary, or it's on the move.

That's history. I say history because it happened in the past.

25
General / Electric vehicles vs Internal Combustion...
« on: 03 March 2021, 12:24:49 am »
Here's a very interesting video countering the objections that some people have to electric vehicles because of the pollution from generating electricity.

(NB Feel free to discuss this, but *politely*... :) )


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